Comprehending the Membrane Properties for Emulation in Organs‐on‐a‐Chip

Membranes are fundamental to the operation of any organ. They not only act as a basal layer for cells, but also partake in transport and communication in the body. Consequently, comprehension of the role of organ‐specific membranes is just as vital to understanding the overall organ function. The characteristics such as biocompatibility, surface roughness, hydrophilicity, porosity, elasticity, and permeability define the organ‐specific function of the membrane while emulating its structure in vitro. Various polymer materials have been reported for the fabrication of organ‐specific membranes owing to the specific characteristics they impart to the membrane individually. Additionally, fabrication techniques are responsible for imparting specific attributes to the membrane. Thus, organ‐specific membrane characteristics, along with material and fabrication techniques, must be identified to better recapitulate the in vivo conditions. Although several membrane‐integrated on‐chip models have been reported, new strategies need to be tailored to obtain organ‐specific functional membranes. Furthermore, perfusion‐based on‐chip models will aid in emulating the fluid stress, thus moving closer to the in vivo conditions. Such models can elicit faithful emulation of the in vivo environment and organ‐specific functions.